Cycle time recorder



Sept. 30, 1952 1. D. HE'IDE. ET Al.

CYCLE TIME RECORDER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 5, 1949 INVENTORS J/M/ f/f/of ATTORNEY Sept. 3G, 1952 J.- D. HEIDE ETAL 2,612,430

CYCLE TIME RECORDER Filed Feb. 5, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT ZWRNEY Sept. 30, 1952 J. D. HEIDE ET AL 2,612,430

CYCLE TIME RECORDER Filed Feb. 5, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 glp/m psg/MMM l.

Sept- 30, l952 J. D. HEIDE ETAL CYCLE TIME RECORDER Filed Feb. 5, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS d/m/ 0. MfS/.0f

BY mm3 A TTURNEY Patented Sept. 30, 1952 CYCLE TIME RECORDER John D. Heide, Ramsey, and John E. Feldman,

Garfield, N. J., assignors to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 5, 1949, Serial No."74,752

` This invention relates to a cycle time recorder and more particularly to a recorder for use with a manually controlled machine to record the various steps performed in a complete cycle of operation of the machine.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and-improvedrecording mechanism capable of making chart records of each complete cycle in a series of operating `cycles performed by the machine. p

Another object is to provide means whereby the duration and time of occurrence of repeated, similar steps Within each cycle may be automatically recorded.

Still 'another object is to provide an automatic recording mechanism which is quickly reset to initial position and which isfcapable of graphical- 1y presenting information concerning the individual cycles of operation of the machine when the time between cycles is relatively short compared to the total time required for the completion of 'individual cycles.

y.A further object is to provide a recording mechanism having a stylus moving at a predetermined speedv across a'chart with means to return the'stylus at a greatly accelerated speed to its initial position.l Other objects will be apparent from the y'description of one embodiment of the invention and its modeof operation hereinafter' described. f

-In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the cycle recorder;

Fig, 21s a front viewof the recorder showing the chart drive;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the recorder showing part of the operating gear train;

.Fig. 4 is an enlarged View, partly in section, showing details of the pen lifting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the ink reservoir and pen;

Fig. 6 isa detailed view of the pen shifting Fig. 1l is'v a diagram of the electrical circuitl of the recorder; and 'f"Fig. 12 is a schematic view of a Banbury mixer showing the manner in which the cycle time recorder is connected to and controlled by the operation `of the Banbury.v

`One use to which the'recorder of the present invention may be put is to record the various cycles of operation of a Banbury mixer used in the processing `of rubber compounds. In order to secure afproduct having uniform quality the loading and mixing cycles of the Banbury-machinev must be closely checked. The use of the cycle time recorder makes it `possible for the operator to accomplish this. The structure of the recordery and the manner in which it is used tov record the operating cycles of a Banbury mixer will now beV described. It should be manifest,

however, that the recordermay be used with other machines.

` Turning now to the details of the recorder structure and referring to Fig. 4 of the drawing, a. bracket I'carrying a pen assembly, hereinafter to be described, is slidably mounted on a horizontalrod 2. This rod is suspended at both ends from a fixed support rod 3 by means of hanging supports 4. Theends of bothfrods pass loosely through thesehanging supports so that the lower rod is free to swing in an arc about the upper rod which forms the center ofthe arc. The upper support rod 3 is fixed to a frame 5.

An ink reservoir 6 is rotatably mounted between the arms of bracket rI by pivots 1. As shown in Fig. 5, a capillary pen 8 connected to the reservoir is mounted on a counterweight 9, which is fixed to the ink reservoir. A pointer I0 is also mounted on the counterweight. The function of the counterweight 9 is to maintain pen 8 in contact with a paper chart II duringjthe tracing operation.

Means are provided to oppose the action of the counterweight and to lift the pen from the pa per at the conclusion of a tracing operation. This includes an armature I2, responsive to the action of an electromagnet I3, the armature being pivotally attached to the bracket I by the bearing I4. A projection I5 rof the armature extends to a point just shortfof contact with the ink reservoir 6. On energization of the magnet I3, the armature I2` moves projectioniS into contact with the base of the ink reservoir; the resulting rotation of the pen assembly around pivots 'l causes the pen 8-to be lifted from the chart. o

The magnet I3 is mounted on a frame I6 which is carried by bracket I. Electric current issuppliedv bythe conductingrails Il and is transmitted to the'magnet by sliding contacts I8 and wire conductors I9. The sliding contacts restraining 'means arejprovided. fk'lo. this end.

guide Wheels v22 are carried bythe lower end of the bracket and are adapted to contact a rigid guide bar 23 and to roll freely along the surface l of such guide bar as the bracket moves alongV the carrying rod 2. In Fig. 4 however, the guide wheels 22 are shown out of contact .withguide bar 23, as will hereafter be described.'"'Y 1 1 Means are provided to move lthe pen assembly bracket I along the carrying rod 2 and to return it to its initial position. To this end,y a reversible motor 24 of any suitable type, such as a capacitor motor, is provided with a shaft 25 carrying a spur" gear 26 and an eccentric cam 21 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9). In contact with this; cam-is thegbase `of a pawl 28, pivotally mounted-,by a pinV 29 on an os,- cillating arm 30. Arm-z30 isgrotatablyzmounted on a shaft 3| -passing through oneend-'o'f'the arm, but its freedomf to rotate labout-such shaft is limited by the action of a spring32.;connected between the arrn'and the frame of the machine. The pawl'28 adapted Jto-engage' the teeth of a ratchet wheel 33 as it is jmoved forward periodi-- cally by the action ofv theLcam'Zl. Thusl'it will be seen that periodic rotationaLmotion is :imparted to the ratchet. wheel 33 and to theshaft 3| to whichit is attached. vTo the-end of this shaft there is fixed a ysprocket Wheel 3ft-which is meshed with la drive-chain'35 (Fig 7*). v1The ends of the drive chain are connectedtofopposite sides of the pen-'assembly I, as shownin Figs. 1 and. 2. Thec'hainfrunsovera plurality of idler wheels 36-disposedaround the frame of the recorder. In this way rotation-of1 the. motor will be translatedinto intermittentv orf-periodic linear motion of the `pen. in adirection fro left to right, in vthe showing of Fig. 2.'

- The recorder is provided with meanstolfrevers the linear motion of therpen'iassembly ina ymanner now to vbe described. The laforesaid spur gear 23, fixed to the'motor shaft 25, engages .a spur gear 3l which-is pivotally mounted on shaft 3| so `as to be free torotate in either direction. Projecting from the rearface of gear 31 is a pin 38, forming a pivot for apawll 39. Said-pawl39 is maintained in contact with a ratchet whee1'40 by the action of coil springg4| (Figi` 9),. The ratchet wheel 4D is rigidly attached to 'the shaft 3| which transmits its motion to the chain drive sprocket 34. It will be seen that during'counterclockwise rotation of the motor (see yE ig,f,.-'7).'the motion of the spur gear 37 Vcauses the fpawl39' to slide over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 40 and to remain thus disengaged for the duration of such motor action while the pen is moving from left toright in- Fig. 2.3 However, during clockwise rotation of said motorV (Fig. 8) the motion of spur gear 3l issuch 'as to cause pawi39` to engage ratchet wheel 40, thereby imparting rotational movement vto shaft' 3| andl chain drive sprocket 34 to movethe penbracketifrom right to left in the showing of Figs. l and2. The construction is such that the-movement of thepen bracket in the return direction is at a much higher speed than its movementfrom left toright. The motor 24 rotates at the same-speed in'both the clockwise direction (Fig. 8) and the'counterclockwise direction (Fig. 7). However,1.during lclockwise rotationv of the motor its rotation is continuously translated into motion of the pen bracket through the gear train comprising gears 26, 3l and ratchet Wheel 40. On the other hand, during counter-clockwise rotation, the cam 21 actuates the pawl 28 once each revolution so that the pen bracket advances in a step by step motiongwA Thus the pen returns@ toits: initial position-at`aehigher'-speed-f'i-than ythatat which it travels during the tracing operation.

-In order that the forward driving means be inoperative during the time the reverse driving meansf'ireV functioning, the frictional interaction ,of-the, contacting surface of cam 21 and the forwwardtdrive' pawlf28`= tends to lift said pawl out i'bffengagement withv'the ratchet 33 during clockwise'rotation of the drive motor (see Fig. 8).

k 'l1hepin42fired;toreciprocating arm 30 limits the rotation of the pawl and prevents it from turning-tov the vertical position in which there would be no contact between the pawl and cam 2'|..l `Although the cam will continue to Acause movementV of the arm. 30V against theA actionner spring -32 the disengagement 'of the pawly and ratchet 33 prevents translation 'of thisl movement into rotation of ratchet 33.l

Means-are providedto -movethe pen apredetermined distance iin either-d'nection 'at right anglesto the lineV described byithepenin its Fiore: ward travel across the record; sheet, suchrposi-i tions being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. .Suchl means includes a walking beam 43 (Figs. land') pivotally attached-to a rigid frame 44-by apin 45.1 Pivotallysuspended from a point 46 near` one end of the beam is the core 41 of a-solenoid'48. .The coreis `partiallyfinserted into ythe, solenoidrand the solenoid is xed ,tov the frame V44. Similarly, atA theother end of `thedffeanr a second corel` isv suspended from pivot. 50;..` Thissecond core is partially inserted into solenoid 5|, also `fixed to frame 44.-.It will be seen that thebeam 43 may berocked about the-pivot 45 by :the actionyof either of the solenoids, the' direction depending on which solenoid is energized. Whenfneither is energized, the beam is returned to' and -maintained in the horizontal position by means which includes a projection 52 extending upwardly-between platesv 53 and '54 separated by afsection of the frame 44.- Pins 55 extend loosely through the plates and the frame. Close contact of theplates with the frame is maintained bythe action `of compression springs 56 and-51 vcarried by the pins 55. It will be seen that energizingfeither solenoid will result in movement of projection 52,'forcing the corresponding plate away from ther frame against the action of the compressionpspring. When the solenoid lis dsa-energized -the plateis forced back by the springfintov contact with'the frame and the projection is returned to the initial center position, thus restoring the' beam'43 to its horizontal position.

The motion of the beam thus brought about'by the action of the solenoids andspringsv is transmitted into displacement of-the pen in 'the following manner. Pivotally connected to thebeam 43 by-the-pinis a vertical connecting rod 59. whose upper end is`-in turny pivotally connected at 60 to horizontal lever 6| (Figs. 3 and 4). This lever is rigidly attached to the hanging support 4 of the pen assembly, lheretoforefdescribed. It will be seen that motion of the lever 6| will causethe support 4 to rotatev about the shaft v1| fwhich,fin turn,l rocksl the supporting rod 2to movezthe pen assembly back and forth. Thusupward movement of the lever 6|, causedby energizing'fthe solenoid 48, willresult in motion of the pen l to the left relative to the direction of its forward travel which would be to the left in the showing of Fig. 4. Similarly, energizing solenoid 5|v will result in a downward motion of lever 8| and consequent movement of the pen to the right relative vto the direction of its forward travel.

The lower end of hanging support 4 describes an arc when it is moved by lever 6|. Thus a lifting action is exerted on pen bracket I as well as the displacing action described. To. the end that the pen bracket be free to move vertically a restraining arm 62 is so mounted that when the bracket is in the center posltion'said arm is not in direct contact with the guide rail 23. When the pen bracket is carried to theleft, relative to the forward motion of the pen 8, the arm 62 and the guide rail 23 are brought into slidable contact to form a pivot about which the upper end of the pen bracket rotates as illustrated in Fig. 4. When the bracket is carried to the right, the arm B2 is removed from contact with rail 23 and contact between the guide wheels 22 and guide railv23 is established to form a pivot for the motion of the bracket to the'right.

Means are provided to advance the chart at a constant rate during the period between tracing operations (Figs. l and 2). A chart driving motor 63 is preferably of the capacitor-run induction type. The motion of this motor is transmitted by a shaft 64 to a driving gear 66 and thence to a gear 61, fixed to a shaft 65. Mounted on the` forward end of shaft 65 is a drive wheel 68 (Fig. 2). One end of a drive rod 69 is pivotally connection by pin to the face of the wheel, the other end being pivotally connected at 1| to a reciprocating arm 12. This arm'12 is free to rotate about a shaft 13. A pawl 14 mounted on the face of the reciprocating arm engages a ratchet which is aiiixed to the shaft 13. This shaft carries a worm gear 16 which engages and drives gear 11 fixed to shaft 18. Mounted on this shaft is a sprocket wheel 19 which transmits the motion of the shaft to the upper sprocket 80 through a chain drive 8|. The upper sprocket 88 is carried by `a chart drive roll 82. The rotation of this roll carries the paper chart I I from a feed roll 83 and over a guide bar 84 to the bottom take-up roll 85 (Fig. 3). This roll 85 is carried between a'bearing 86 and a cone-shaped frictional clutch element 81, shown in Fig. 2. The clutch is mounted on the end of shaft 18, but is free to slip under the load. This freedom to slip is necessary because the sprocket 19 is of greater diameter than sprocket 88 and thus the speed of the take-up roll 85 is greater than that of the drive roll 82. The action of the slip clutch permits the exerting of tension on the chartbetween the drive roll and the take-up roll without danger of tearing. l

The invention may be applied to record the cycle of operation of a Banbury mixer.` In Fig. 12ga Banbury mixer has been shown in schematic form. At the beginning of the cycle the discharge gate 88 of the mixer is closed, thereby closing ay gate switch 89 (Fig. ll) the position of the switch being dependent upon the position of the gate. The line switch 90, connecting the apparatus to the power source, is closed. The materials to be mixed are placed on a conveyor 9|. The conveyor control switch 92 is then closed completing the circuit including the said switch, the gate switch 89, the line switch 90 and a relay 93. The relay 93 is energized and the relay circuit is closed through contacts 94 and 95. No current can now flow to the chart drive motor 63 or the pen lift magnet I3, since contacts |04 and |05`are open, with the result lthat the chart is stationary land the pen is in contact with the chart. contact being maintained by the action of counterweight 9. It will be seen that theconveyor switch 92 can be opened without interrupting the current through relay 93 because of a holding circuit through contact 94. Thusthe conveyor can be started and stopped for the purpose of step-wise addition of material without interfering with the operation of the recorder. as will be shown. y

In practice, the operator of the Banbury mixer places the charge of rubber` and the compounding ingredients in proper order on the conveyor belt. The conveyor is started, thereby initiating the operation of the mixer, and is stopped when the addition of the rubber is complete. The ram 91 of the mixer is lowered, veither under its own weight or under applied pressure and the rubber is then masticated for a given periody according to a predetermined schedule. The ram is then raised and the conveyor is started to add a compounding ingredient. The ingredient may be added at once or more slowly by alternately stopping and starting the conveyor. When addition is complete the ram is again lowered and mixing continued for the desired time. Subsequently, additional materials are similarly added and dispersed into the rubber. When the operation yis complete the dischargev gate of the mixer is `opened to remove the compounded rubber.

chart,its position on the chart depending uponv the position of the ram 91 of the Banburymixer.

To determine relationship between the position ofthe traced line and that of the ram, the ram position control valve 98 functions as a threeway switchV whose contacts correspond to the position of said ram. Thus, if the ram 91 is in the down position under its own weight the switch is in the neutral position 99. The circuit which includes the pen shifting solenoids 48 and 5I is then inoperative and the pen assembly is maintained in its middleposition as heretofore described and the penrtraces a line as shown by segments a of broken lineA of Fig. 10. If, however, valve 98 is moved to a position such that the ram is forced down under the pressure of air in the cylinder |00 acting on the piston IIlI, the circuit is completed through the contact |82 upon turning valve 98 to the proper position. The solenoid 5| is consequently energized. Through the cooperation of the elements ofthe pen shifting means-heretofore described the pen is displaced a predetermined distance ina direc-l tion tothe right in relation to its forward motion v and is maintained in said displaced position during the time the solenoid remains energized This position of the pen is illustrated by seg- .ments a, of line A in Fig. l0.

The third contact I 03 corresponds to the raised position of the ram. When the circuit is closed through this contact |83, when the operatorturns valve 9S to raise the ram for the addition of material, the solnoid 48 is energized. This results in a shift of the pen mechanism to the left through the action of the pen shifting means.

The pen will continue-to trace alinein this dis= placed position, as illustrated by segmenta" of line A of Fig.' l0, while the so1enoid'48 is energized and will return to the central position Vupon the de-energizing of said solenoid.'

In Fig. 10 the broken lines A, B and `C illustrate the graphicalrecord given-by the recorder. The Adistance between the beginning of line A and of line B, for example; is proportional to the time elapsed between the end of the cycle shown by A and the beginning of the cycle shown by B. The segments a', la and a" of the line A illustrate the possible positions of the ram as described above. The length of the segments a', a and a" is proportional to the'length of time during` which the ram was maintained at the position indicated. It will be seen that inspection of the chart will indicate whether'or not the desired mixing schedule has been adhered to. In addition, it is evident that successive cycles of operation may be readily compared.

At the completion of operation the gate 88 is opened to discharge the contents of the mixer thereby opening the gate switch 89. The relay 93 is thus deenergized and the relay circuits are established through the contacts' |04 and |05. The circuits which include the chart drive motor 63' and the pen lift magnet |3 are energized when the contact |04 is closed. As 'a result the pen is lifted from the paper, terminating the tracing operation, and the paper chart is moved forward by the motor E3 and-the cooperating chart advancing means previously described. At the same time, the closing of contact |05 causes current ow to the reversible pen drive motor 24 through the normally closed reverse limit switch |06. The motor is thus reversed, causing the pen drive mechanism to return the pen assembly rapidly to its starting position. When said position Ais reached the pen carriage contacts said limit switchl causing it to open, thus interrupting thecurrent flow throughthe motor and stopping the pen carriage. I

It is believed evident that the chartwill continue to be advanced and that the pen will be maintained -in the raised position from contact with the'chart until the beginning of the next cycle of operation, viz'., until the gate switch 89 and the conveyor switch 92 are again closed.

The normally closed forward limit'switch 96 is' provided to protect the mechanism in case the operation of the Banbury mixer is carried on for a period longer than the apparatus is capable of recording. This limit switch is lQcated in the path of the pen carrying bracket (see Fig. 2). In the event that the operating time exceeds a predetermined limit bracket contacts said limit switch 96 and causes it to open. This interrupts the current flow to the pendrive motor 24 andstops the forward motion of the pen carria e.

scale |01 (see Fig. 2), mounted on the frame ofthe apparatus, is marked to indicate units of time 'inminutes The pointer |0 mounted on the pen bracket passes in front of the scale, indicating the time elapsed' at any point in `a cycle and providing a visual guide to the progress of the operation. The indiciaA on scale' |01 correspond to the numerals D appearing on the vchart (Fig.10).

`Additional electrical means are provided to indicate, vas a part of the graphical record, whether the mixing operation is carried out 4at normal rotational speed of the rotors |08 of the mixer or under'high speed. To that end, an auxiliary cir- CII 8 cuit is included which includes the :switch KIM; the contact 0, one kof ythe pair ofl slidingl con# tacts I8, andthe pen lift magnet. 3" (see.

4 and 11'). A

The positionof the switch |09 depends on the choice of operating conditions, being opened when are brought together, and vwill remain `energized until theyfare separated by thel forward motion of the pen' carriage. Thus, the traceresulting when the mixing operation is conducted at high rotor speeds will show a break in the line at some fixed point along its length, the position'o'f such break depending upon the position of 'the fixed contact ||0.` This :break is indicated lby space in line B of'Fig. 10. It is apparent' that-,whenI the mixing is atnormal speeds, the trace obtained willshow-no such break in the line, as in' lineAof Fig. '10, the switch |09 being open-and energizing 'of the pen lift magnet |"3y being thus prevented. vTlius in Fig. A10.-the lineB 'indicates that theV mixingwas conductedlat 'high rotor speed, while'lthe absence of theA break in line A indicates normal mixing'speed. -Y

Having thus described ourv invention, what We claim and desire'to protect 'by Letters Patentis: 1. In a recording mechanism, va supporting structure 'including a penr device movable 'across the faceof a chart to tracea line thereon, means for pivotally mounting said supporting/structure to move the pen device at right angles to the line, saidv means including4 a supporting rod, `suspending links pivotally attached to the ends of said rod,'a carrying rod pivotallyattached to th'e lower4 'endsA of-rsaid links, a bracket slidea'bly monted'pnsaidrcarrying rod, said pen device beingpivotally mounted in saidA bracket, a sole'- noid', and a lever carried by one of said'links and operable by said -solenoid to move said carrying rod whereby to causefmovementof'the pen devlce; .7, 2. In" a recording mechanism, la supporting structure includingfa pen device movable across the face of a chart to trace a line thereommeans including a link for pivotally mountingsaidsupporting structure to move the pen device at right angles to" the line, a walking beam, an arma ture pivotally connected to one end of said Walking beam, a second armature pivotally connected to the opposite end of said walking beam, a lever carried-'by said link, a ro'd'connecting one end of. said Awalking beam to said/ lever, said walking beam being operable by either of said solenoids to move the pen device. f.

3'. A system for recording the cycle of operationof a mixer having a discharge gate and a ram movable by fluid pressure comprising, in combination, a scribing mechanism, -means ior moving said scribing mechanism transversely across the face of a chart to scribea line thereon during operation of the mixer, means responsive to the starting of a cycle of operation of the mixer Ito initiate the movement of-thescribiiig means', means responsive to downward movement o'f said ramunder4 fluid pressureto lmovesad scribing mechanism longitudinally Vof the charty to provide an offset in the scribed line, means responsive to upward movement of the ram to move said scribing mechanism longitudinallyof the chart in the opposite direction to provide an offset in the scribed line and means responsive to the opening of the discharge gate to return said scribing mechanism to its initial position.

4. A system for recording the cycle of operation of a mixer having a discharge` gate comprising, in combination, means for supporting and moving a chart, a scribing mechanism, means for moving said scribing mechanism transversely across the face of the chart to scribe a line thereon during operation of the mixer, means responsive to the starting of a cycle of operation of the mixer to initiate the movement of the scribing mechanism, means responsive to the opening of the discharge gate to return said scribing mechanism to its initial position, additional means responsive to the opening of the discharge gate to move the chart longitudinally at a constant rate between successive cycles of operation of the mixer, and means responsive to the starting of a cycle of operation of the mixer to stop the move-ment of the chart and to maintain it in xed position during said cycle of operation.

5. A system for recording the cycle of operation of a mixer having a discharge gate and a closing ram movable by fluid pressure comprising, in combination, a scribing' mechanism, means for moving said scribing mechanism transversely across the face of a chart to scribe a line thereon during operation of the mixer, said line having a length proportional to the time required to complete the operation, means responsive to the starting of a cycle of operation to initiate the movement of the scribing mechanism, means responsive to downward movement of said ram under fluid pressure to move said scribing mechanism longitudinally of the chart to provide an offset of the scribed line, means responsive to upward movement of the ram to move said scribing mechanism longitudinally of the chart in the opposite direction to provide an offset in the scribed line, and means responsive to the opening of said discharge gate to return said scribing mechanism to its initial position at a rate substantially greater than the rate of its movement during the scribing operation.

6. A system for recording the cycle of operation of a mixer having a discharge gate and a closing ram movable by fluid pressure, comprising in combination, a scribing mechanism, means including a reversible motor for moving said scribing mechanism transversely across the face of a chart to scribe a line thereon during operation of the mixer, means incsluding a relay reponsive to the starting of a cycle of operation to initiate the movement of the scribing mechanism, means responsive to downward movement of said ram under fluid pressure to move said scribing mechanism longitudinally of the chart to provide an offset in the scribed line, means responsive to upward movement of the ram under fluid pressure to movev said scribing mechanism in the opposite direction to provide an offset in the scribed line, means including said reversible motor and said relay responsive to the opening of said discharge gate to return said scribing mechanism to its initial position, means responsive to the opening of the discharge gate to move the chart longitudinally at a constant rate between successive cycles of operation of the mixer, said means including said relay and a second l()- motor, andmeans including said relay responsive to the starting of operation of the mixer to stop the movement of the chart.

7. A system for recording the cycle of operation of a mixer having a discharge gate and a closing ram movable under fluid pressure comprising` in combination, a scribing mechanism, means for moving said scribing mechanism transversely across the face of a chart to scribe a line thereon during operation of the mixer, means responsiveto the starting of a cycle of operation of the mixer to initiatethe movement of the scribing mechanism, manually operated means to control the position of said ram, means responsive to downward movement of said ram to provide an oifsetl in the scribed line, said means including a solenoid, switching means operable by said manually operated means to energize said solenoid, lever means operable by said solenoid to move said scribing means longitudinally of the chart, means responsive to upward movement of said ram to provide an oiset in the scribed line in the opposite direction, said means including a second solenoid, switching means operable by said manually operated means to energize said second solenoid, said lever means being operable by said second solenoid to move said scribing means longitudinally of the chart in the Aopposite direction, and means responsive to the opening of said discharge gate to return said scribing mechanism to its initial'position.

8. A system for recording the cycle of operation of a mixer adapted to operate at either of two speeds and having a discharge gate and a ram movable by fluid pressure comprising, in combination,v a scribing mechanism, means for moving said scribing mechanism transversely across the face of a chart to scribe a line thereon during operation of the mixer, means responsive to the starting of a cycle of operation of the mixer to initiate the movement of the scribing means, means responsive to downward movement of said ram under fluid pressure to move said scribing mechanism longitudinally of the chart to provide anoiset in the scribed line, means responsive to upward movement of the ram to move said scribing mechanism longitudinally of the chart in the opposite direction to provide an oiiset in the scribed line, means for selecting the operating speed of the mixer, and means responsive to the selection of high speed operation to product an interruption in the scribed line.

9. A system of recording the cycle of operation of a mixer having a discharge gate, a closing ram movable by uid pressure, and a loading conveyor, comprising, in combination, means for supporting and moving a chart, a scribing mechanism, means for moving' said scribing mechanism transversely across the face of the chart to scribe a line thereon, a switch operable by said discharge gate and adapted to be closed by the closing of said gate, a second switch operable by said conveyor and adapted to be closed during operation of said conveyor, a relay adapted to be energized by the closing of said gate controlled switch and of said second switch, means operable on the energizing of the relay to initiate movement of said scribing means, a holding circuit operable on the energizing of said relay to maintain the relay in an energized condition on the opening of said second switch, means responsive to downward movement of said ram under iiuid pressure to move said scribing mechanism longitudinally of the chart to provide an offset in the scribed' line, means responsive to upward movement of the ram to move said scribing mechanism longitudinally of the chart. in the opposite direction to provide an offset in the scribedline, means including said gate controlled switch responsive to the opening of said discharge gate to interrupt said holdingv circuit whereby to de-energize said relay, means responsive to the cie-energizing of said relay to return said scribing mechanism to its initial position, and means responsive to the de-energizing of said relay to move the chart longitudinally at a constant rate between successive cycles of,` operation.

10. A recording mechanism for providing. directly comparable graphical indications of the cycle timing of alseries of processes, comprising a scribing means engageable with a chart, driving means -for moving said scribing means alongsaid chart from an initial position of said scribing means to scribe a trace on the chart, means for initiating the movement of said scribingmeans simultaneously with the start of one of saidv pro.- cesses, means responsive to the completion of said one process-for lifting the scribing means from said chart andmeans responsive to said completion for returning said scribing means to its initial position, means for moving said chartina direction perpendicular to the direction of the trace on said chart, means responsive to the completion of said one process for initiation of said chart moving means, and means responsive to the initiation of one of saidprocesses for lstopping said chart moving means;

11. A recording mechanism for providing directly comparable graphical indications of the cycle timing of a-series ofprocesses, each of said processesvbeing composed of asequence of steps, comprising a scribing: means engageable with a chart, drivingl means. for moving said scribing means along said chart from an initial position of said scribing means to scribe a trace on the chart, meansi'or initiating the movement of .said scribing means simultaneously` with the start of one of said processes, means responsive to the occurrence. of' successive steps in said sequence of steps .for offsetting said scribingmeans to provide. distinctly offset traces on said chart corre sponding :to successive steps, .meansresponsive lto the completion of. said onel process for lifting the scribing means.. from saidcharty and means responsive to said completion for returning. said scribing means to its initial position, means for moving saidfchart in adirection perpendicular to the .direction of the trace on said chart, means responsive to the completion of said one process for.l initiation of said chart moving means, and meansresponsive to the .initiation of one of said processes forstopping said chart moving means.

JOHN D. HEIDE. JOHN E. FELDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this-patent:

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